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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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US Rations Silver Dollars as Investors Scoop Them Up

Soaring silver demand means mint can't make coins fast enough

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(Newser) – Investors and coin collectors are hopping mad at the US Mint for placing quotas on purchasing silver dollars, the Wall Street Journal reports. The price of silver has more than doubled in the last three years, and investors looking to cash in on the boom—and avoid the stock and real estate markets—are snapping up this year's "silver eagles" much faster than the mint can make them. 

The coins have a $1 face value—but with the high price of silver and dealer markups, the eagles are currently trading as high as $20. Mint officials consider the coins among the most beautiful ever made. "I just need bullion," one collector said. "I wouldn't care if the coins were ugly."

Silver Eagle dollars, each containing an ounce of silver, have a face value of one dollar but as the price of silver soars, buyers would be lucky to get change from $20.
Silver Eagle dollars, each containing an ounce of silver, have a face value of one dollar but as the price of silver soars, buyers would be lucky to get change from $20.   (Shutter Stock)
The government is rationing the number of Silver Eagle dollars being sold to the public.
The government is rationing the number of Silver Eagle dollars being sold to the public.   (U.S. Mint)
The shortage of 2008 Silver Eagles means coin collectors are looking for alternatives. Sales of Canadian silver dollars have soared.
The shortage of 2008 Silver Eagles means coin collectors are looking for alternatives. Sales of Canadian silver dollars have soared.   ((c) kevindooley)
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